Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 38: Camels At The Alamo For a brief time in the 1850s, camels roamed and worked the Alamo grounds. It's a remarkable yet lesser recognized piece of history during the time the Alamo served as a critical supply hub for the United States Army as the country expanded west. Today we reveal why camels were once brought to the Alamo, what was learned from the Army's camel experiment, and how you can see camels make a return to the Alamo later this month, just in time for World Camel Day. Featuring Doug Baum from Texas Camel Corps and the Alamo's former curator Dr. Bruce Winders. Come to the Alamo for World Camel Day: https://www.thealamo.org/visit/texas-camel-corps Learn more about the Texas Camel Corps: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063543971347 See photos from the 2023 Camel Day at the Alamo: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAlamo/posts/pfbid02YFiCXsTzYDN6nNXdXUtgAZAx57nQtXt1MDqptp6unBfb8KUDrWR8fcgpb8tZnzjRl Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 37: Preserving Battle Cannons There is a one-of-a-kind battle cannon on display at the Alamo. If you look down its barrel, you can see a layer of a chalky white substance. That substance is actually growing from the metal. Today we reveal why this substance is growing on the cannon, the team of Texas experts putting their minds together to find creative ways to stop it, and the race to save the cannon for the historic record. Featuring the Alamo's Senior Researcher & Historian Kolby Lanham, Texas A&M University Conservation Research Laboratory director Dr. Chris Dostal, and Texas A&M University PhD student Kim Breyfogle. Read more about cannon conservation at the Alamo: https://www.thealamo.org/support/preservation/research/the-cannon-conservation-project Video of Texas A&M team at work: https://youtu.be/6Fj62ABibQg?si=oAL2QtiWbDWpIoLj Photos of Texas A&M team at work: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAlamo/posts/pfbid02SChn7Cnw1Da3hHbBRqHeuav8q9FJcXjHpJpk7kKFxhmhyqZfmnWH1GFVmuSJCkhtl Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 36: The Donald & Louise Yena Spanish Colonial Collection As we close out Preservation Month, our focus turns to collectors - people who scour the world for artifacts and preserve them for the historical record. Donald Yena is a renowned Western artist. Alongside his wife Louise, he amassed more than 400 artifacts from Spanish Mission life in Texas. He used them to make sure his paintings are historically accurate. Today we reveal the personal stories behind the collection, the hidden treasures you can spot in each painting, and why the Yenas chose the Alamo as the permanent home for this collection of a lifetime. Featuring Donald Yena, Louise Yena, and the Alamo's Senior Researcher & Historian Kolby Lanham. More about the Yena Collection: https://www.thealamo.org/alamo-trust/pressroom/donald-and-louise-yena-spanish-colonial-collection See the Yena Collection at the Alamo: https://www.thealamo.org/support/alamo-plan/alamo-collections-center Watch as the Alamo unveiling Donald Yena's seventh donated painting: https://youtu.be/Ry4JzxR5ZcU?si=_iToIT9Ro2TDeAA3 Photos from the painting unveiling: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAlamo/posts/pfbid02ivpTJSfM4zV2uR38Dc5WKLiKqX9hbVqbKhKsMzzCiG4n2eEQjy7GfCXd4r9sK1Vkl Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 35: The Road To Alamo Plaza Mission San Antonio de Valero, later known as the Alamo, did its job: it eventually became the center of a bustling city, with Alamo Plaza in the middle of all the action. As we continue to mark Preservation Month, today we reveal the road to Alamo Plaza and the seeds of development - how it became known for stores, banks, museums, food, entertainment - plus, the modern-day efforts to restore reverence to the battle site. Featuring the Alamo's Researcher Thomas Ledesma. Video showing Alamo Plaza's growth: https://youtu.be/cI0hIGMnr3I?si=CJujbxNoA6SMLQeK Photos showing Alamo Plaza's growth and tourism roots: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/commerce-and-preservation Photo showing Alamo Plaza in 1937: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=826325309532049&set=pb.100064637625928.-2207520000&type=3 Read more about the Alamo Plan: https://www.thealamo.org/support/alamo-plan Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 34: The Many Lives Of The Long Barrack Imagine pointing at the Alamo: most people would probably point to the famous Church with the iconic arch. But really, the Alamo was a bustling four-and-a-half acre community anchored by its oldest building, the Long Barrack. Today we reveal the many lives of the Long Barrack, dating back nearly 300 years as missionary housing, evolving into a military outpost and hospital, then later the subject of fierce debate over historic preservation. Featuring the Alamo’s Director of Interpretation Tom Castanos and the Alamo’s Former Senior Director of Interpretation Sherri Driscoll. Read more about the Long Barrack: https://www.thealamo.org/visit/whats-at-the-alamo/long-barrack See photo of the Long Barrack as a general store: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/commerce-and-preservation Read Dr. Bruce Winders' essay on the Alamo's journey from frontier outpost to city center: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/commerce-and-preservation/frontier-outpost-to-city-center Read Dr. Bruce Winders' essay on Alamo Plaza's changes at the turn of the 20th century: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/commerce-and-preservation/beginning-of-a-new-era Watch video on the history of the Long Barrack: https://youtu.be/jXcvnjm96v4?si=Vl3rcBTwcsatFBKu Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 33: The Women Who Saved The Alamo History remembers the men who fought in the Battle of the Alamo - looming figures like Crockett, Travis, and Bowie. But we also must shine a light on the women who told their stories and ensured, centuries later, we continue to tell their stories. Today we reveal how Clara Driscoll and Adina De Zavala - two women from different walks of life - joined forces to save the Alamo Church and Long Barrack, the battles they faced along the way, and how they changed the face of what would become known across the world as the Alamo City. Featuring the Alamo's Senior Curator, Historian & Lecturer Ernesto Rodriguez. Read the Alamo website's section on Commerce & Preservation: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/commerce-and-preservation Read more about Clara Driscoll: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/driscoll-clara Read more about Adina De Zavala: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/zavala-adina-emilia-de Watch the Alamo's video featuring Former First Lady Laura Bush: https://youtu.be/DTH_oyqGFho?si=LGkatm1Avy6YCtk9 Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 32: Preservation Month May marks Preservation Month. Preserving and conserving the Alamo Church and Long Barrack are paramount to the Alamo Plan, as well as safekeeping all the artifacts we continue to uncover that might otherwise be lost to history. Today we reveal the work being done every single day to keep these fragile buildings standing, the dynamic duo charged with historic preservation, and how their seemingly opposite occupations work in tandem, toward a shared and sacred goal. Featuring the Alamo's Conservator Pam Jary Rosser and the Alamo's Archaeologist Dr. Tiffany Lindley. Video on preserving the Alamo Church facade: https://youtu.be/cYwQQfiQlTM?si=qAGqyHqSkDufUkEN Video on preserving the Alamo Church's walls: https://youtu.be/3tz5l4T6CSs?si=n3oVh4NXVAg1Cef8 Video on cleaning the Alamo's bronze reliefs: https://youtu.be/ywQ0onAubP0?si=4sma7PEwnrEPZl5A Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 31: ¡Viva Fiesta At The Alamo! Every April, San Antonio celebrates Fiesta, a 10-day citywide “party with a purpose” that benefits charities, both large and small. Fiesta draws in 2.5 million visitors a year with more than 100 events like downtown parades, Mexican-style rodeo demonstrations, and neighborhood street fairs. Today we reveal how this massive celebration has its humble roots at the Alamo, how parades that pass by the Alamo honor its history, and how one parade in particular will invest in the Alamo’s future for generations to come. Featuring the Alamo's Collections Manager Misty Lanham, the Alamo's Development Manager and former Battle Of Flowers Association President Anna-Laura Block, Fiesta Flambeau Association President James Fenimore, Former King Antonio and Fiesta Commission President Jack Hebdon, and Texas Cavaliers River Parade Vice Marshal Tres Steves. Fiesta San Antonio Commission website: https://fiestasanantonio.org/ Battle of Flowers Parade website: https://www.battleofflowers.org/ Fiesta Flambeau Parade website: https://www.flambeau.org/ Texas Cavaliers River Parade website: https://www.texascavaliers.org/ More information about the Alamo's Texas Cavaliers Education Center: https://www.thealamo.org/support/alamo-plan/education-center Video from the Alamo's Texas Cavaliers Education Center groundbreaking: https://youtu.be/bNOMoghK5Ig?si=BccXxiMnOsXwPS45 The Alamo's video from the 2023 Fiesta parades: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAlamo/videos/259551186657791 Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 30: The Battle Of San Jacinto “Remember the Alamo.” That iconic battle cry is now known throughout the world. Borne out of the decisive loss at the Alamo, these stirring words galvanized the decisive victory at San Jacinto that ended the Texas Revolution, for good. Today we reveal what led up to the Battle of San Jacinto, how its 18 minutes of fighting changed not just Texas, but the world, and the important ways history is being preserved at this East Texas battlefield. Featuring Cecilia Abad, Curator of the San Jacinto Museum & Battlefield Association. San Jacinto Museum & Battlefield Association website: https://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/ San Jacinto Day: https://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/Visit/Calendar/San_Jacinto_Day_Celebration/?date=4%2F20%2F2024 Video about snuff box Santa Anna gave Sam Houston: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=982329322807688 Photo and information about Treaty of Velasco: https://www.thealamo.org/support/preservation/updates/noticias-de-tejas Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 29: National Volunteer Month April marks National Volunteer Month here in the United States, a time to honor volunteers and encourage people to get involved in their communities. The Alamo is open 364 days a year, welcoming an average of 1.6 million visitors, including 155,000 school-aged children. Today we reveal how volunteers help inform those visitors from all over the world, the training opportunities available from Alamo Experts, and how you can get involved. Featuring the Alamo's Director of Living History & Public Programs Angela Wolfgram, the Alamo's Volunteer Manager Kevon Hunter, and Alamo Living Historian Magee Cuevas. Become an Alamo volunteer: https://www.thealamo.org/support/volunteer-at-the-alamo Email Kevon: khunter@thealamo.org Call Kevon: (210) 225-1391 x4005 Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 28: The Maverick Family Legacy Texas is a state of mind - an independent mind. An attitude that can be traced back to San Antonio’s pioneers, and one man in particular: Samuel Augustus Maverick, a name that today describes that Texas state of mind. Today we reveal Maverick’s deep roots at the Alamo – he was here during the Siege, and he returned after the Battle – plus the cannons he unearthed and preserved for the historic record, and the legacy the Maverick family builds upon today to Remember The Alamo. Featuring Maverick descendant Kenneth Maverick from Maverick Whiskey, and the Alamo's Senior Researcher & Historian Kolby Lanham. Former Alamo Curator Dr. Bruce Winders' essay on Samuel Maverick: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/military-occupation/samuel-a-maverick Maverick's 1835 diary entries: http://www.sonsofdewittcolony.org/bexarmaverick.htm Mary Maverick's 1838 drawing of the Alamo Church: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialAlamo/photos/this-1838-drawing-of-the-alamo-is-considered-to-be-the-earliest-and-was-done-by-/10155819750591863/ Photos of original Maverick House: https://samuelamaverick.blogspot.com/2013/01/texas-homes.html Photo of old Maverick Bank courtesy UTSA Libraries Special Collections: https://digital.utsa.edu/digital/collection/p9020coll008/id/4148/ Postcard of old Maverick Bank courtesy San Antonio Conservation Society: https://www.saconservation.org/VirtualExhibits/AlamoPlaza/0ABD916D-E1F0-45EB-92E8-804534685214.htm Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Battlefields across the United States are forever hallowed ground, where blood was shed in pursuit of competing visions for the future. With each conflict, the people, the reasons, and the backdrops change. But the results - so many lives lost, the shifting balance of power - are the same. Today we reveal how the Battle of the Alamo and the Battle of Gettysburg were true turning points in their respective conflicts, how the written word impacted what came next, and how both battle sites are handling the modern-day struggles of growth. Featuring the Alamo's Senior Researcher & Historian Kolby Lanham and The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast's Jim Hessler. Read Jim Hessler's biography: https://www.battlefields.org/contributors/james-hessler Listen to The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast: https://thebattleofgettysburgpodcast.com/ National Park Service's Gettysburg website: https://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm The Battle of Gettysburg Podcast's interview with the Alamo's Kolby Lanham: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07WniAYFPoI Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 26: Bella The Alamo Cat The Alamo is a world-famous battle site and a community gathering space. It’s also home to Bella The Alamo Cat. She’s the latest in a line of Alamo Cats who patrol the complex, defending the Alamo from pesky rodents and greeting visitors. Today we reveal the lighter side of working at the Alamo to show you how this furry feline became the animal ambassador for history lovers around the world. Featuring the Alamo's Senior Curator, Historian & Lecturer Ernesto Rodriguez and the Alamo's former Senior Director of Interpretation, Volunteers & Living History Sherri Driscoll. Read Bella's biography: https://www.thealamo.org/visit/whats-at-the-alamo/bella-the-alamo-cat Follow Bella on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bellathealamocat/ Follow Bella on X: https://twitter.com/bellaalamocat Buy Bella's Fiesta medal: https://tickets.thealamo.org/events/b0ebed41-724c-da50-42fc-6c155332a8d0 Buy Bella merchandise from Alamo Gift Shop: https://store.thealamo.org/featured-gifts/bella-the-alamo-cat Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 25: After The Battle It's March 1836, after the Battle of the Alamo. The Alamo has fallen. Its Defenders, all dead. Just a few survivors remain to share the story. And as the news slowly spreads, the Texas Revolution carries on. Today we reveal the panic that ensued as ordinary citizens heard what happened at the Alamo, the devastating loss Texas suffered in Goliad, and why the frontlines of battle moved eastward. Featuring the Alamo's Researcher Thomas Ledesma. More on the life of Susanna Dickinson: https://officialalamo.medium.com/stories-of-texas-women-susanna-dickinson-3806d48603e9 More on the Battle of Refugio: https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/refugio-battle-of Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 24: The Battle Of The Alamo The Battle of the Alamo: the 13-day siege, the urgent calls for reinforcements, and the defiant pledge of “Victory or Death” all come down to this - a cold, dark morning, with the Alamo garrison on the brink of attack. Exactly 188 years since the Battle, we reveal how the Mexican Army overtook the compound, the personal stories of the Defenders and survivors, the critical information sadly lost to history, and why, from the ashes of defeat, we will always Remember The Alamo. Featuring the Alamo's former Curator Dr. Bruce Winders. Read more about the Battle of the Alamo: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/battle-and-revolution Profiles of Alamo Defenders: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/battle-and-revolution/defenders#sortByName See the Travis Letter at the Alamo through March 24, 2024: https://www.thealamo.org/visit/return-of-the-travis-letter Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 23: The Siege Of The Alamo The Siege of the Alamo: Santa Anna and his troops have arrived in San Antonio, with plans to take back the town and end the Texas Revolution, once and for all. But at the Alamo, William Barret Travis has a small band of soldiers and volunteers defending the key stronghold. Today we reveal what happened in between the barrage of cannon fire, who answered Travis’ calls for help, and how the Alamo became hopelessly outnumbered as its Defenders faced down the reality of war - when Victory or Death become all that’s left. Featuring the Alamo's Senior Researcher & Historian Kolby Lanham. The Alamo's Commemoration Events: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/commemoration See the Travis Letter at the Alamo: https://www.thealamo.org/visit/return-of-the-travis-letter Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 22: Before The Siege February 1836, before the Siege of the Alamo. History tells us what’s coming next. But for the people living through these events, information is painstakingly slow, arriving only by letter. Today we reveal the written words that have survived, the repeated, grave concerns that battle will soon break out in San Antonio, why cries for help were never answered, and the startling realization that soldiers are staring down death. Featuring the Alamo's Senior Curator, Historian & Lecturer Ernesto Rodriguez. Attend the Alamo's Commemoration events: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/commemoration See the Travis Letter at the Alamo: https://www.thealamo.org/visit/return-of-the-travis-letter Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 21: Commemoration 2024 We are fast approaching 188 years since the Siege and Battle of the Alamo, pivotal points in the Texas Revolution that are now forever etched in history. Today we reveal how we continue to Remember The Alamo through a series of Commemoration events meant to honor the fallen heroes of the Alamo and teach new generations about what took place all those years ago. Featuring the Alamo's Director of Living History & Public Programs Angela Wolfgram, the Alamo's Director of Events & Membership Leah Thornton, and Friends of the Alamo member Forrest Byas. The Alamo's Commemoration events calendar: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/commemoration Plan your visit to see the Travis Letter: https://www.thealamo.org/visit/return-of-the-travis-letter Volunteer at the Alamo: https://www.thealamo.org/support/volunteer-at-the-alamo Join Friends of the Alamo: https://www.thealamo.org/membership Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 20: The Travis Letter "Victory or Death" - the only outcomes a Battle of the Alamo could possibly have. History remembers these stirring words, written by William Barret Travis, with the Alamo garrison surrounded and the Texan Army, outnumbered. Now, for just the second time since it left Travis’ hands, the letter will soon be back at the Alamo - the very place it was written. The Travis Letter, on loan from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission, will be on display inside the Alamo Exhibit at the Ralston Family Collections Center from February 23, 2024, through March 24, 2024. In this special episode, we’ll reveal its journey from its home archive in Austin, how you can be among the first to see it, and why the Travis Letter holds such a special place in Texans’ hearts. Featuring the Alamo's Senior Curator, Historian, & Lecturer Ernesto Rodriguez and the Alamo's Collections Manager Misty Lanham. Plan your visit to see the Travis Letter: https://www.thealamo.org/visit/return-of-the-travis-letter Join February 22, 2024 Friends of the Alamo sneak preview: https://www.thealamo.org/visit/travis-letter-sneak-preview Read more about the Travis Letter and see high-resolution photos: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/battle-and-revolution/travis-letter Download the Alamo Education Team's letter-writing activity: https://www.thealamo.org/fileadmin/assets/educator/educators_pdfs/travis_letter_activity.pdf Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!

Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast Episode 19: Black History Month February marks Black History Month, and we are devoting this episode to the contributions of African Americans to the Alamo’s history. Today we reveal the real stories behind these figures, who so often are shrouded in myth or forgotten by history. We’ll also tackle the tough truths behind their presence at the Alamo and explore how Alamo grounds have become a central backdrop in the local fight for civil rights. Featuring the Alamo's Senior Curator, Historian & Lecturer Ernesto Rodriguez and Dr. Charles Gentry, a Historic Preservation Specialist with the City of San Antonio and a Lecturer in the African American Studies Program at The University of Texas at San Antonio. Joe's account of the Battle of the Alamo: https://www.thealamo.org/remember/battle-and-revolution/joes-account Statues of Emily Morgan & Hendrick Arnold: https://www.thealamo.org/visit/whats-at-the-alamo/statues-of-heroes Dr. Carey Latimore's research on civil rights in San Antonio: https://www.thealamo.org/fileadmin/assets/support/research_and_studies/civil-rights-in-sa-wwii-to-1960s.pdf Kolby Lanham's research on press coverage of lunch counter integration: https://www.thealamo.org/fileadmin/assets/support/research_and_studies/alamo-1960-lunch-counter-photography-report.pdf Send the Alamo Podcast a Text Message!